The Canada Employment and Immigration Union is dismayed that federal budget restraint is spreading, with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) announcing that they are implementing a “stop the clock” on term rollovers and various staffing control measures across the department.
Some 7,667 employees on term employment contracts were informed of this move yesterday by Deputy Ministers. Starting Feb. 14, term employees will no longer be able to accumulate time toward obtaining an indeterminate job.
These term employees help implement vital programs including Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, the Canada Pension Plan, and various skills development and employment initiatives that support individuals and communities across the country.
“We’re really concerned to see the scale of this news and broader government budget cuts, and how it's directly impacting our members and programs that the public relies upon during a time of record household debt levels, economic uncertainty and anxiety,” said Rubina Boucher, CEIU National President.
CEIU received this information from ESDC at the eleventh hour, and we strongly denounce their lack of meaningful consultation. We have called for greater transparency and collaboration to ensure that decisions impacting our members are made inclusively and responsibly.
CEIU is pushing for comprehensive supports for members, along with:
- Enhanced mental health resources that go beyond Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to reflect the diverse communities where members live and work.
- We continue to emphasize the importance of equipping management with training to uphold the dignity of union members, tools to become effective and empathetic leaders, and skills to promote respectful workplace environments, including practices for equitable hiring, retention, and promotion.